Lurker Protocol
From SoSH
- "As in so many otherwise meaningless pursuits, complex codes of conduct have emerged to imbue significance to what is fundamentally a squandering of God’s gift of life.” Jose's 8/23/07 Keys to the Game
Here are a few suggestions from the summer of 2007: no posts should
- report any developments favorable to the Yankees (MFY disasters, however, can be reported early and often)
- show pictures of bat genitalia (bad mojo), or
- create dueling game threads, upon pain of virtual death.
One code of conduct is already clearly established: Be Excellent To Each Other
- -Sprowl, August 23, 2007
- The only "etiquette" rule I care about: no snarky, sarcastic responses to other people's posts.
- -Bellhorn August 24, 2007 [1]
- Amendments:
- Listening to Sarah McLachlan is bad mojo.
- When the Red Sox get somebody on-base (home runs count as having a man on base, even though they immediately leave base), pictures of bottles of mango chutney are good mojo.
- -Kitchkinet August 27, 2007 [2]
For the most part, lurker game threads moderate themselves, and we like living without rules. But what happens if something is not just edgy, but over the edge? How can we moderate ourselves without bashing lurkers, piling on, or becoming system administrators? Usually, we don’t respond to trolls or silly posts. It may be better to pass lightly over it. If it’s important to intervene, one can:
- PM the over-the-edge poster, asking for some moderation.
- Ask for moderation in the thread, but with minimal snark.
- Rate the lurker – some will be sensitive to a one-star rating. They might get the point and calm down (if they do, it would be a kindness to up their rating).
- PM one of the Dopes.
- Sometimes, even a saint will get sick of turning the other cheek. As a last resort, mock the troll without mercy.
- -Sprowl, September 16, 2007 [3].
